Distributing panel



July' 19, 1932. G BAXTER 1,868,132

DISTRIBUTING'PANEL Filed April 3, 1929 nil Tu Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED srnras PATENT OFFICE HAROLD G. BAXTEB, OIB' BALDWIN, NEW YORK, A SSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8a WUI'ACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA DISTRIBUTING PANEL Application-fled April 3, 929. Serial No. 352,090,

' My invention relates to distributing panels and .particularlyto panel units such as are used current-distributing panels. H

object pf my invention: is to provide a distributingpanel unit whereina one.

piece-base, maybe used "in buildingupf a panel", the unit having receptacles for either cartridge fuses or. screw-plug fuses and wherein seats are provided at 'each' end of the base for interchangeably receiving fuse blocks for fuses of either of theabove-noted types. 7

A further object of my invention is to provide a panel unit having acne-piece base :5 block and two detachable fuse blocks wherein the base block is provided with a central block is provided with a recess and fuse re-' 'ceptacles for a cartridge fuse and wherein a fuse carrier is provided having a handle portion which constitutes a cover for the fuse and which fits within the recess in the fuse block, whereby live parts of the fuse receptacle are rendered inaccessible except when the carrier for the fuse is removed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a distributing-panelunit wherein the base constitutes a single piece of insulating. material which may be conveniently and inexpensively molded.

These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout the further description of my invention are obtained .by means of the apparatus hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: Y

Figure 1' is a perspective view of the insulating base constituting a part of the vention; t Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the insulating base shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front plan view of the assembled panel unit, aportion of the cover panel unit and embodying features of my inbeing beneath;

4 Fig. 4 is an end view of the panel-unit as- .sembly viewed'from'th'e left end of the unit;

] Fig. 5 is an end'view' of the panelrunit assemblyviewed from the "right end of thei unit, and V Figs. 6 and 7 are side elevationa-l viewsand end views,'respectively, of the fuse carrier adapted to support a cartridge fuse.

Referring to the drawing, the panel unit cut away to expose the switch there-' comprises a base block 8v that is preferably made of an insulating compound molded into the shape illustrated in "Fig. 1 and is provided with, a centi'al recess 9 forreceiving the usual tumbler-type switch. The base is provided, adjacent to the ends thereof, with seats 11 and 12 upon which fuse blocks 13 and 14 may be interchangeably mounted, in I a manner to be more specifically described.

The base block 8 is provided, oniits inner face, with a transverse groove or recess 15 that extends from one side of the block to the other, the recess being adapted to receive the usual bus bars 16 which extend transversely of the base block and are provided with switch-connecting terminal straps 17 and 18. It will be understood that a plurality of base blocks areassembled in a sheet-metal housing (not shown) in side-by-side relation With the bus bars extending transversely of the blocks and positioned in the recess 15,

the terminals of the switch being connected to the bus bars, in the usual manner, by screws or studs 19 which extend through perforablock 14.

The block 13 is made of molded insulating material and is provided with a recess 21 in which two pairs of fuse receptacles or clips 22 are mounted and which are of the usual construction for receiving the end ferrules of a standard cartridge fuse 20 shown in broken tween the barriers to permit the operators fingers to grip a cartridge fuse while replac Ihe fuse block 13 is retained in assembled position by. ,the screws 25 which extend through the innermost fuse clips 22 and engage conductor bars 26 disposed in recesses 4 27 in the base. The inner ends of the bars 26 are conductively connected to the switch terminals of the screws 28.

-In order to avoid the necessity for the operators fingers to enter the recess to replace a fuse, a fuse holder 29, such as illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, is provided. This fuse holder is made of molded insulating compound and comprises an oblong handle portion 31 having indentations 32 in the op posite sides therefor for providing finger grips by which the fingers of the operator may securely grip the carrier. The carrier is also provided with a transverse extension 33 having a circular opening 34'extending therethrough for receiving the cartridgefuse 20 and supporting it in parallel relation to the handle portion 31, the hande portion being substantially the same length as the fuse which it supports and constituting a shield or cover for the fuse when the carrier is in operative position within the recess 21 of the fuse block.

In order to releasably retain the fuse in the carrier, I have provided yielding friction devices comprising a metal ball 35 mounted in a metal cylinder 36 that is embedded in the insulating material. of the handle, as indicated in Fig. 7. The end of the cylinder is provided with an opening 37 ofless diameter than that of the ball which permits the ball toiprotrude from the end of the cylinder and beyond the inner face 38 of the handle portion 31 of the carrier, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. -A- spring 39 is mounted within the cylinder 36 to press the ball outwardly so that it yieldingly engages the ferrules of the fuse 20 for releasably holding the fuse in operative position in the carrier. ."The carriers are of such proportions that two of them may be positioned in side-by-side relation in the fuse block, one of the carriers being shown in operative position in Fig. 3.

At the right-hand end of the base block, 8,

I have shown a fuse block 14 adapted to receive screw-plug fuses 41. The block 14 comprises molded insulating material having two recesses therein for receiving contact shells 42 of the usual receptacle for. screw-plug fuses 41. The end View of the fuse .block 14 is shown in Fig. 5 with a screw plug 41 inoperative position.

'43 to which the load terminals of the circuits are detachably connected by means of screws 44, in the usual manner. The bottom faces of the fuse" blocks of both types are substantially alike and correspond, in contour, to the surfaces of the seats 11 and 12 of the insulating base. It will be apparent, therefore, that the blocks of either type may be so interchangeably mounted upon the base that a panel board having fuse blocks of both types may be assembled, if desired, or a panel board having fuse blocks all of the same type may be built up, as desired.

' In Fig. 3, I have shown a double-pole tumbler switch 45 mounted in the recess 9 of the base block'and it will be understood that a similar switch is mounted beneath the cover 46 which is provided with openings 47 through which the handles 48 of the switches. extend so that they are accessible exteriorly of the cover for operation. The fuse blocks 13 and 14 are provided-with seats 49 which are slightly below the level of the outer faces of the blocks for receiving the ends of the cover 46 which is retained in position by means of screws 51 that are screwed into threaded metal sockets 52 embedded in the material of the fuse blocks. When the cover is in operative position, the outer face thereof is flush with the outer face of the fuse blocks 13 and 14.

Since the base blocks 8 are arranged in side-by-side relation, when assembled in a panel housing, it will be seen that the covers 46 entirely enclose the space between the fuse blocks and protect the switches therebeneath.

By reason of the improved panel-unit construction just described, it will be seen that each panel unit comprises but three insulating blocks which may be assembled to constitute a panel for receiving either cartridge or screw-plug fuses and that the construction is compact, attractive in appearance and of such construction that all live parts are 'rendered inaccessible when the fuses are in operative positions. I

While'I'have illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes,

,modifications, substitutions, additions and receive a cartridge fuse and having fuse-retaining means comprising a ball mounted in a recess and rojecting beyond a surface of the block an a spring biasing the ball to its outer operative position.

3. A fuse carrier for a'cartridge fuse comprising an insulating block having an elongated handle of substantially the length of the fuse to be supported therein and an integral transverse portion having an opening therein for receiving a cartridge fuse and supporting it parallel to and beneath the handle, and yielding means on the inner side of the handle for frictionally engaging the fuse for releasably retaining it in operative position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of March HAROLD G. BAXTER. 

